The end of the term is always a busy time of year with lots of activities happening. Please look at your diaries and pencil in the End of Year Mass, Prizegiving and Missioning of the Year 6 leavers.

Last Thursday we had an awesome ‘Thank you Coaches’ evening. Thanks to those who were able to make it to the event and a big thanks to Trudy for organising the event. It was well enjoyed by those in attendance. Again, thanks for the fantastic support we get from you with coaching and managing.

Our Kapa Haka group performed at their absolute best on Friday night. All those who were present at the Ahurei were very proud of our children. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, so a huge thanks to Koro Tini and Sylvia who prepared our children for the festival. This is Koro’s ninth year as our Kapa haka tutor; we are indeed blessed to have such a talented man tutoring our tamariki. Koro has indicated he is looking forward to his tenth year with us next year. Aren’t we fortunate?

We are all set for our Christmas Parade this Saturday and we are all set to go. Fingers crossed the weather will be just right. Letters went home yesterday, so if you would like your child to be in the parade, fill out the form and return it to school. In the event of losing the form or if you change your mind on the day, just turn up on parade day, dressed in a costume. Enzo’s mum, Nicole Tse, has been very busy making many shepherds and wise men outfits for our students. We will be able to offer these to our children to wear on Saturday.They look fantastic, thank you. Viv Radley has made some shepherds head pieces for children to wear. Thanks Viv. Unfortunately we couldn’t find a donkey so we will have a small pony instead.

We had a lovely Advent Liturgy yesterday, thanks to Bernie Hall and the Kahikatea team. Just a reminder that our end of year Mass is December 8th at 1PM at St Mary's Church.It is a time we give thanks for the awesome year that we have had. It is also a chance to farewell our Year 6 students.

Our children from our Kakano and Manuka teams have their celebration with their parents tomorrow. It will be great to come and see what your child has done this year.

Our Year 6's have a retreat to look forward to this Friday while the Year 5's are involved in a Leadership day.

Our Christmas decorations are starting to go up around the school this week. I invite children to write to Santa Claus again this year and for those children who write a letter, they will get a reply from him. Santa’s letterboxes will be scattered around the school again. Children’s younger brothers and sisters can write a letter and big brothers and sisters can drop the letter in Santa’s mail box.

We are still collecting food items for the foodbank. If you would like to donate then send them with your child to school.

Thank you so much to the parents who have supported the Angel Tree. Those children who receive your gifts at Christmas time will be very happy indeed. You have all been so generous.

We will still collect gifts for Sister Carina to distribute to the needy at Christmas time, so if you missed out on the Angel Tree and you have a small gift please wrap it with a tag that says who it would be suitable for: male or female and the age of the child and place it under our tree. Thanks for your support.

Facebook is a great way of seeing photos of children at school events. We try to post a number of photos. We have 950 likes so far. It would be awesome if we can to get to a thousand likes by Christmas. So if you haven’t already, please like us!

Have a great week.David Macmillan, Principal.

CHRISTMAS FLOAT HELPERS NEEDED!We need some help on Friday 1 December with getting the Nativity set ready for the Christmas Float.If you are able to set up during the day - or after 3pm, please contact Michelle Strathern phONE 022 637 5800.

IMPORTANT DATES:

TERM 4 CALENDAR

Thursday 30 November

Totara trip out to Rainbow Springs (Y5/6)

Thursday 30 November

Kakano & Manuka teams' celebration/parents

Thursday 30 November

ELL Picnic

Friday 1 December

Year 6 retreat

Friday 1 December

Kakano & Manuka teams portfolios go home

Friday 1 December

Return date for Angel Tree gifts

Saturday 2 December

Rotorua Christmas Parade

Monday 4 December

Totara Rms 3 & 4 to Aquatic Centre

Tuesday 5 December

Totara Rms 1 & 2 to Aquatic Centre

Thursday 7 December

Junior Big Day out

Friday 8 December

Reports to Yr 3 - 6 students

Friday 8 December

End of year Mass : 1pm St Mary's Church

Tuesday 12 December

Prizegiving : School Hall 9am

Wednesday 13 December

Junior Athletics Day

Thursday 14 December

School Tryathlon (All students)

Friday 15 December

Missioning of Year 6 students : 11am School Hall

Friday 15 December

School closes : 12 midday

If any families want to access the latest Chromebook deals suppliers are offering to our Year 3-6 parents, check out the information in the Elearning section of the A-Z Guide under Our School on our School Website

JUNIOR STUDENT LED CONFERENCES:Parent Interviews for Junior Student Led Conferences will take place on Thursday 30 November from 3.15 - 5.45pm.To book an interview please follow this process - www.schoolinterviews.co.nzparent/teacher interview school bookingsevent code : kp7mbPlease note that bookings are at 5 minute intervals - expect the Student Led Conferences to take approximately 15 minutes. If you wish to discuss any other aspects of your child's performance at length, please make an appointment with the class teacher for another time.

FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

ADVENT-A special time in the Catholic calendar. Advent explained for children and adults.Video linkWe held our Advent Liturgy this week and classes will now begin to look at the meaning of this special time. Advent is the waiting and preparation time before Christmas. Christ asks us to be always ready for his coming. While it is difficult to keep in mind in the midst of holiday preparations and celebrations, shopping, lights and decorations, and joyful carols, Advent is intended to be a season of reflection and penance much like Lent.At our Teacher Only Day, one of the tasks for our Religious Education Team was to work on reviewing our Curriculum Education Plan for 2018 and to assess our 2017 Action Plan. We are pleased with the progress we have made in 2017 and have set some new targets for 2018.Our Year 6 students have their Retreat on Friday. The day will start with Mass, then Deacon Nick will come and talk with the children. Our fantastic volunteers have organised many neat activities for the children. Molly Florence and other youth will help alongside Mrs Todd and myself with games, reflection activities, art work, drama and song. This is a special time for our Year 6 students as they wind down their time here at our great little school and prepare to move on to their next phase in education and their faith.

Blessings,Bernadette Hall-Director of Religious Studies

TE AHUREI - ROTORUA PRIMARY SCHOOLS MAORI FESTIVAL

Well done to all our children who participated in the Ahurei this year. You were BRILLIANT! I would especially like to thank our Tutor Koro Tini for his amazing tuition and also Ange Thrupp and Naomi Lomas for their support in preparing the Ahurei group. Kapa Haka will begin again late in Term One. Mrs Dunkley.

Year 5 & 6 Camp 2018

The Year 5 & 6 camp for 2018 to Auckland is in Term 1 - 26 - 29 March.We would like to encourage you to start a payment plan for this activity. The cost will be approximately $350.00 and we require the fee to be paid before the students go on camp.Many thanks to those parents who are already underway with payments. Any queries to Margo Mason - admin@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

PMP: Perceptual Motor Programme -Junior classes NEED parent support on a Tuesday/Wednesday afternoon from 1.30pm to 3pm to assist the teacher running this programme. Anyone is very welcome to contact Brigitte Holmes for further information: Room 18A or brigietteh@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

SCHOOL NOTICES :

We would like to acknowledge the Rotorua Lakes Swim School for tutoring all of our Yr 5 and 6 students. They are providing intensive swim tutoring for two weeks and also the NZ Water Safety Council Water Skills for Life Programme which is run at the Aquatic Centre. We would also like to thank their partners in this programme – Swim Rotorua and funders, Baytrust, RECT and Ritchies Bus Services. THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS.

CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDCatholic Diocese Education Savings Account Terms and Conditions brochure and application form may be found in the office foyer. Interest rates for deposits also available.www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz

SCHOOL ABSENCES If your child is away from school for any reason, please notify our office staff using one of these options :Phone 3481 701Link to website:

WINZ approved provider and supplierKaore Nga Kutu have been approved to supply services and products to WINZ clientele. It is now possible to submit a quote to WINZ and on approval the treatment can be done or products provided. 100% natural product and 100% made.Lice are detrimental to the health of our children and we want to stop the infestation. For further information contact 021 813 993

RISE DANCE COMPANY:

SPORTS NEWS :

ST MARYS APP - Download now

Summer Sports is nearing the end of season, please be sure to amend your settings to include the sport/s your child/ren is/are playing. The summer sports this season are, Touch Rugby, Flippaball and Cricket. Once you have downloaded, you will receive changes and/or cancellations etc....

Summer Sports

Touch Rugby

Parents the draw is up on the St Mary's website under Sports Draws.

Flippaball

as the draw comes in, it will be posted up on the ST Mary's website, so please keep checking the website.

Cricket

Practices for Incrediball will be on Friday's afterschool. Super six's (Pukaki) your practices will be on Wednesday's afterschool. We still need a coach for the Superstars (year 0-2), so parents please put your hands up if your kids are playing.

LAST CHANCE PARENTS - REGISTER YOUR KIDS ONLINE NOW

To the Flippaball Teams, ST MARYS LIONS, CHEETAHS, JAGUARS and the TIGERS who have all made the Semi Finals. These teams played last night and boy is was excited to watch. Bring on the Finals.

Photos

Parents, really need some football, netball and hockey photo's if you have some of your kids please email them to me sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

TE TAHI (The Faith) -Expressions of interest are being sought from our Catholic parishioners to work with the Rotorua police to reduce the impact of family harm.Presently Rotorua police attend up to 10 callouts to homes where domestic incidents occur. They can deal with the perpetrators but do not have time or resources to support the victims.Te Tahi is seeking your availability for comfort and support to victims; practical help for temporary repairs; food items; baking teams; prayer teams; trained councillors.Forms are available in the school office if you feel you could offer support - or Phone Gary 347 8061 formore information.